Machine for winding fin stocks



Sept. 24,1946. J, D, LEAR 2,408,322

MACHINE FOR-WINDING FIN STOCKS Filed Aug. 16, 1943 4'She6tS-Sl'ie9t l INVENTOR Jose 11 D. Lear- ATTORNEY Sept. 24, 1946. J. D. LEAR MACHINE FOR WINDINGLFIN STOCKS Fi1e i 1m 16, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet '2 l L Rm 5k mm x mL m v km 6 QR v m w mm L m \N A ml. 5 a w QR .Qw S 8. mx hm .m. 7 0 o. I 1 w WMk 9 w v 9mm 9% V NR QR 9v mwk mm. v .\N\\\\\h aw MR 3 m h k :1 N m, I SW S mm b NW NY 9% mm w 9W Sept. 24, 1946, J. D. LEAR 2,408,322

' MACHINE FOR WINDING FIN STOCKS Filed Aug. 16, 1943 4 Sheetg-She'et 3 INVENTOR $9 I Joseph Z7.Lear

ATTORNEY S Sept. 24,- 1946. J. D. LEAR I MACHINE FOR WINDING FIN STOCKS Filed Aug. 16, 1945 4SheetS-Sheet 4 m T. N E V m ATTORNEY S Patented Sept. 24, 1946 MACHINE FOR WINDING FIN STOCKS Joseph D. Lear, Buffalo, N. ,Y assignor, by mesne assignments, to Fedders-Qu'igan Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 16, 1943, Serial No. 498,845

This invention relates to the manufacture of spiral or helical finned tubing and more particularly to the Winding of the fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube. In my prior Patent No. 2,152,437, I have-disclosed and claimed apparatus for winding fin stock upon the periphery of a, tube by mounting the tube for rotation and moving the fin applying mechanism along the rotatin tube to wind the fin stock thereon. The present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon the subject matter of said prior patent.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism, for winding the fin stockv spirally and progressively on the periph ry of a tube; with which the mechanism remains relatively stationary and the tube is moved progressively through the mechanism; which will wind the ribbon stock snugly and uniformly on the rotating and endwise moving tube; and which will be relatively simple, compact, light in weight, rapid,

in action and inexpensive.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for applying fin stock progressively and spiral-1y to the periphery of a tube, which will require a minimum of power to operate, and which will produce a product of high quality, with the fin properly positioned and spaced thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of winding fin stock spirally on a tube, which will be relatively simple, efficient, practical, rapid and inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanyin drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan of a mechanism for applying fin stock spirally and progressively to the periph-- ery of a tube in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through the fin stock applying mechanism, the section being taken approximately along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation through a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 3, the section being taken approximately along the line 55 of Fig. 3; t

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 3, the section being taken approximately along the line Ii-B of Fig. 3';

13 Claims. (Cl. '153 64.5)

Fi 7 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 6, the section being taken approximately along the line I! of Fig. 6;

. Fig. 8 is a. perspective illustrating the manner in which the finstockis wound on the tube; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse, sectional elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, with the section taken approximately along the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and '2, which illustrate a general diagrammatic layout of an improved winding machine constructed in accordance with this invention, associated with desirable auxiliary mechanism, the improved winding mechanism W is mounted upon a base I. At one side of the base I is asuitable trough-like guide 2 supported by pillars 3. A tube 4 to which a spiral fin is to be applied is placed in the trough 2 and moved endwise to the mechanism W, and after passing through that mechanism where the fin stock in ribbon form is wound spirally on the tube, the tube 4 passes through a fiuxin device 5 also mounted on the base I, and then through a soldering device 6 mounted on a base 1. From the soldering device 6, the tube with the fin soldered thereon passes to, and is supported by another trough or upwardly opening channel guide 8 supported on pedestals 9.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 9 particularly, the

1 mechanism W for applying the fin stock spirally to the tube 4 includes a tubular sleeve or bushing I0, Fig. 3, having a bore of a size to receive and slidingly and rotatably mount a stretch of tube 4 which is fed endwise therethrough. The :bore

' of the bushin I9 is disposed in endwise alinement with the trough 2 so that tubes pushed endwise along the trough 2 will enter the bore of the bush-' ing II]. This bushing I0 is disposed within a housing or casing II, which is supported on the base I and has an opening I2 through which the end of the bushing I0 is exposed to receive the tube l. The housing II has an upright supporting flange I3 which divides the housing into compartments Hand I5. This flange I3 is provided concentrically of the bushing It with a laterally elongated bearing hub I6, which mounts a rolling bearing ll. Rotatably supported by the rolling bearing I1 is a bushing I8 which is approximately coextensive in length with the sleeve Ill.

The outer end of the sleeve I0 is provided with a laterally turned peripheral flange I9, which abuts against the end of the bushing I8 and a cupshaped shell 29 telescopes over the flange I9 and the adjacent end of the bushing I8 and is threaded upon the bushing I 8 so as to clamp the flange I9 against the end of bushing I8. This shell 20 has an opening in its end wall of approximately the same size as the bore of the sleeve In, which opening is larger at its outer end than at its inner end and tapered between them so as to receive the end of a tube 4 and guide it into the bore of the sleeve I0. A gear 2| is clamped against a shoulder on the periphery of the \bushing l8 by the shell 20, the gear 2! being disposed. in the chamber 1 4. Another gear 22 is rotatably mounted upon the periphery of the :bushing [8 at the opposite side of the bearing H from the gear 2! and within the chamber of this housing.

A pinion 23 is threaded upon a laterally ex-' tending hub on the gear 22, which pinion 23 is disposed or spaced in a direction lengthwise of the tube 4 from the gear 22 and Within a chamberthe tube 4 in a position between the pinion 23 and gear 22 and a suitable seal 29 is provided between it and housing II. The chamber 24 is thus in communication with the chamber l5 in the space surrounding the pinion 23 and gear 22. Also forming a part of the housing 25 is a somewhat cup-shaped shell 33 which telescopes over the flange 21. The bottom of this shell extends toward the tube 4 and carries at its center, and concentric with the tube 4, a removable bushing 3!, which at its right-hand end in Fig. 3 has a converging, tapered entrance to a bore of a size which receives and slidably and rotatably supports the tube 4, so that as the tube is inserted in the sleeve 10, it will be guided into the bore of the bushing 3| and thus farther through the machine. v

The shell has a laterally extending hub 32, which is rotatably mounted by a rolling bearing 33 in a bearing standard or upright 34. The free end of the hub 32 is threaded, and upon this threaded end is a tubular member 35. Threaded into the free end of this tubular member 35 is a short bushing 35 which has a bore that is the periphery of each roller 45 is also fluted or ribbed in a peripheral direction so as to provide small peripherally extending ribs which, if the rollers are pressed against the tube periphery, will grip or bite into the tube sufiioiently to rotate the tube about its longitudinal axis when the rollers are bodily rotated with the tubular member about the longitudinal axis of the tube The other armof each bell crank lever 38 extends generally parallel to the tube 4 and at its end is sufiiciently heavy or weighted, so as to overbalance to a substantial extent the end carrying the'roller 40. Thus when the tubular member 35 is rotated with the shell 30 of housing 25 about the axis of the tube 4, the bell crank levers will be rocked by centrifugal forces in directions to press the rollers 40 tightly against the periphery of the tube 4 which is between them in the tubular. member 35. The faster the rotation, the greater will be the gripping force of the rollers 40 against the tube by reason of the increasing centrifugal forces. Hence the tube 4 will be rotated positively with the tubular member 35 about the axis of the tube, notwithstanding that the rollers 40 are free to rotate about their own axes or pivot pins 4i, and thus pass the tube 4 endwise while rotating it.

In order to provide for an initial grip between the rollers 43 and the tube 4 when the machine is idle or rotating at a very low rate, each weighted end of each bell crank lever may be provided on its side towards tube 4, with a recess containing a spring 142 which is under compression between an adjustable plug at the bottom of the recess and the hub of member 35. Each spring I42 urges its related bell crank lever in a direction to press the roller 40 on that lever against the tube 4. The rollers 4B are disposed as closely as possible adjacent the end of the tubular member 35 from which the tube 4 leaves or the exit end of the bore of bushing 35, so that the turning torque on the point where the turning torque is applied through same size as, and alined with, the most restricted part of the remainder of the bore of this tubular member 35, so that the bore of the bushing forms a continuation of the smallest bore portion of the member 35. This bushing 36 has a laterally and outwardly turned flange which serves as an abutment against which the fin stock is guided as it is wound upon the periphery of the tube 4. The tubular member 35 has a portion 31 extending in opposite directions from the central portion, see Fig. 5, and rotatably mounted on this portion 31, but on diametrically opposite sides of the tube 4, are bell crank levers 38.

The pivot pins 39 of these bell crank levers are carried by the portion 37, and the axes of the pins 39 are crosswise of but offset from the axis of the tube 4. One arm of each bell crank lever extends toward the tube 4 and at its free end rotatably supports a roller 43 by a pin 4|. The tubular member 35, immediately adjacent the inner end of the bushing 36 is provided with recesses or cross passages 42, see Fig. 5, so that the rollers 40 can pass through these recesses and engage the periphery of the tube 4 passing through the tubular member 35. The periphery of each of these rollers 45 is concave in transverse cross section, with a curvature such as to approximately fit the convex periphery of the tube 4,- and the the pull of the fin stock'as it is wound on'the tube, there will not be an opportunity for large torsional movements of the tube 4 with resulting inaccuracies or variations in the rotation of the tube 4 or in the winding of the fin ribbon on the tube. By mounting the levers 38 with the rollers close to the bushing 36, and the levers extending therefrom along the tube in a direction opposite to the direction of endwise travel of the tube, the pivots 39 can be intermediate the ends of the levers, and the rollers can be carried by the member 35 for bodily rotation therewith, yet close to the exit end of that member 35.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the gear 2| in the chamber I4 is fixed upon the bushing l8 which is rotatably mounted in the rolling bearing I7, and this bushing through the flange 26 and shell 30 of the housing 25, rotates the hub 32 which is also rotatably supported by the bearing 33 and mounts the tubular member 35.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, the pinion 23 meshes with and drives an idler gear 43 pivoted on a stud 44 carried by a bearing portion formed on the flange 26 ofthe housing 25, and this gear 43 in turn meshes with a gear 45 fixed on a shaft 46 rotatably carried by the bearing portion formed on the flange 25. This shaft 45 extends through the flange 26 into the chamber formed by the shell 30 as it telescopes over the this shaft 46 carries, fixed flange 26, and inthe portion within the shell 34'; thereon, aworm screw 41,seeFigs.6and9." l w Referring now particularly to Fig. 9, this worm screw 41 meshes with and drives a small worm wheel 48 which is secured fixedly upon a shaft 49. This shaft 49 has at one end a head 50 which abuts against an end face of the gear 48. Adjoining the head 5El,theshaft 49 is threaded as at 5!, and is then provided with a reducedv threaded portion 52 with a shoulder 53 between these two threaded portions. Beyond the threaded portion 52, the shaft is provided with a smooth periphery where it passes through spaced bearing bushings 54 provided in an internal flange 55 on the inside face of housingiiii, This smooth shaft portion, adjacent its free end, is provided with a still further reduced portion 56 on which a bevel gear 51 is secured and the extreme end of this shaft 49 is threaded and mounts a nut58. Threaded upon the larger threaded portion 5! of shaft 49 is a bushing 59' which abuts at one end against the gear 48 and clamps it against the head 50 of the shaft. The gear 48 has a threaded bore so that it is threaded upon the threaded portion 5! against the head 50 of the shaft 49 and locked in that position by the engagement therewith of an end of V the bushing 59. The bushing 59 which thus functions as a lock nut may be held against turning by a transverse pin 60 which passes through the bushing and the shaft.

The lock nut bushing 59 is rotatably received in a bearing lining or bushin-gfii, carried by'a bearing boss 62 provided on the inner face of housing 25. Threaded upon the reduced threaded portion 52 of the shaft and against the shoulder 53 is a bevel gear 63, and a shim or thrust washer 64 is disposed between one end face of the bevel gear 83 and the end of the adjacent bearing bushing 54. By tightening the nut 58 on the smallest end of the shaft 49, the shaft will be pulled endwise so as to bring the shoulder 53 against the bevel gear 63 and clamp the bevel gear between it and-the thrust washer 64, and at the same time press the bevel gear 51 against the end of the bushing 54. A pin 65 may be passed through the bevel gear 51 and the shaft 49 to definitely secure the bevel gear 5-1 to'the shaft in addition to the clamping of that gear against the shoulder between the two reduced smooth sections under the pressure of the nut 58. Keyed upon the smooth part of theshaft 49 between the bearings 54 by a key 49a is a roller 66 with a periphery that is arcuately concave in transverse section. The center of curvature of this concave curvatureis approximately that of the tube 4 where it contacts the tube so that it will fit the tube as shown clearly in Fig. 9.

Mounted on an inner wall face of the housing 25 by pivot screws or studs 61 (Fig. 9) are two bell crank levers 68 and 69. These bell crank levers 68 and 69 have arms normally extending approximately parallel to one another at opposite side faces of the roller 66 and at the free ends of these arms have weights 10 which are urged apart by a compression spring 1| that at its ends is received in recesses in the weights 10. The other arm of the bell crank 69 is provided with a bearing 12 which rotatably supports a shaft 13 that has fixed on one end thereof a bevel gear 14. Gear 14 meshes with and is driven by the bevel gear or pinion 63 on the shaft 49. The bevel gear 14 is at one end of the bearing 12 and mounted upon the shaft 13 at the other end of the bearing is a roller'15 that is similar in diameter andjperiphery to roller '66. The shaft13-atone end has a reduced, threaded portion upon which -the roller 15 is threaded against a shoulder between the IG-r duced threaded portion and the bearing part of the shaft to key. this roller to its shaft. A nut 16 is threaded upon the threaded end of thes'haft13 and acts as a lock nut to prevent .unthreadingof the roller 15. This roller 15 also bears against the periphery of the tube 4.

Similarly, the other arm of the bell crank 68 is also provided with a bearing 11 similar to bearing 12 which rotatably supportska shaft 18. This shaft at one end carries a bevel gear 19 fixed thereon and which meshes with the bevel gear 51. At the other end of the bearing 11, the shaft 18 mounts a roller 89 which is threaded on the reduced endportion of the shaft 18 in the same manner that was explained for the mounting 20f the roller-15 of the shaft 13. J'Ihe roller IE0 is secured against unscrewing by a. lock" nut" 8| threaded upon the shaft 15' The rollers 15 and have peripheries which are concave in cross section, so as to fit the periphery of thetubefi, and of the same diameter as roller 66. It will be noted from Fig; 9, that these rollers :65, 15 and Staredisposed degrees apart around the periphery of the tube 4 and bear radially against the tube 4. The periphery of each of these rollers 66, 15 and 80 is preferably provided with crosswise ribs which grip or bite into the periphery of the tube 4 sufficiently to feed the tube 4: endwise when all of the rollers 66, 15 and 80 are rotated.

It will be noted that the worm screw 41 "drives the worm gear 48, and the latter through its mounting on the shaft 49 drives .the bevel gears. 63 and 51. The bevel gear 5.1drives the bevel gear 19 and through it and the shaft 18 drives the roller 80. The bevel gear 63 drives the bevel. gear 14 and through it drives the roller '15. The roller 66 is keyed on the shaft 49, andthus'all I of the rollers when rotated in this manner will feed the tube 4 in the same direction, which will be to the left in Fig. 3. The spring 1| normallyv rocks the bell crank'levers 58 andv 69 in directions.

, to press the rollers 80 and 15 radially against.

the periphery of the tube 4 and thereby to press. the tube 4 against the periphery of the roller 66. When the housing 25, is rotated, the bell cranks 68 and 59 will be bodily rotated about the axis of the tube 4, andthis rotation will create cen.--.

trifugal forces on the weights .1!) tending to sepa rate them and move them towards positions in which the weights 1!] would be actually alined with the pivots 61 and. the axis of the tube 4. This movement will tend to force the rollers 15 and 39 against the periphery of the tube-4 with: a greater force than that created by therspring- There is sufficient play between the bevel gears 51 and 19 and betweenthe bevel gears 63 and 14 to allow of a limited rocking movement of the bell crank levers without causing disengagement of the meshing bevel gears.

rollers are transversely ribbed, the positive rotation of all of these rollers will feed the tube end-- with an-idler gear 82 which is fixed upon a-shaft Thus the tube 4 willbe gripped tightly by the rollers, and since the 83' that passes through and is rotatably supported by a bearing 84 carried by the flange I3. The other end of the shaft 83 has fixed thereon a gear 85, which meshes with and drives the gear 2| that is fixed upon the bushing, I8. The idler gear 82 meshes with and is driven by a pinion 86 which is provided on the shaft 81 of a suitable source of power such as an electric motor 88. It will be noted from the foregoing that the shaft 81 of the motor drives one train of mechanism composed of gears 86, 82, 22, pinion 23, idler 43, gear 45 and worm screw 41 to provide for the rotation of the rollers 56, I5 and 88 all in a direction to feed the tube 4 endwise at a speed depending upon the ratio of this train of gears. Since the gear 82 is fixed upon the shaft 83, the gear 85 will rotate with the gear 82 at the other side of flange I3, and by meshing with the gear 21 will rotate the bushing I8 at a much faster rate of revolutions per minute than the rollers 69, I5 and 88 will be rotated.

Since the tube 4 is rotated at a rate dependent upon the rotation of the gear 2I, this means that the tube will be rotated faster than it will be fed endwise, yet the rotating and endwise moving forces acting on the tube 4 will be derived from the common motor or source of power 88. There is thus a definite predetermined speed ratio between the endwise movement of the tube 4 and its rotary movement, which difference will determine the pitch of the fin which is wound upon the tube 4. By the foregoing mechanism, the tube 4 will be moved endwise progressively through the tubular member and discharged through the outer end of the bushing 36, and at the same time will be rotated about its longitudinal axis. The fin stock is wound upon the periphery of the tube 4 at the discharge end of the flange 36 by mechanism which will next be described.

The fin stock is in the form of a continuous or long stretch of fiat, metallic ribbon 89 (Fig. 3). This ribbon is conducted from a spool (not shown) on which a supply of it is coiled, over an idler roller 98'which is free to rotate on a stud 9I mounted on an upstanding bracket 92. From the roller 98, the fin ribbon passes downwardly through a crimping mechanism 93, in which mechanism it passes between opposed crimping rollers. 94 where one edge zone of the ribbon is provided with crimps that are shown in Fig. 8. Any suitable crimping mechanism may be employed, and another form of such mechanism is shown for example in Fig. 6 of my prior patent above identified. The ribbon 89 with one crimped edge then passes downwardly to meet the periphery of the tube 4 in a direction tangentially thereto, with the ribbon disposed edgewise of itself against the tube periphery. In other words, the plane of the metallic ribbon is crosswise of the axis of the tube at the zone of contact of tube and ribbon.

One face of the ribbon abuts against the exposed end face of bushing 36, and it is pressed against that bushing by a rotatably mounted disk 95 '(Figs. 3 and 4) which at its periphery overlies the end face of the flange on the bushing 36 and closely approaches or touches tube 4. The disk 95 by pressing the ribbon against the end face of the bushing 36 holds the ribbon in edgewise relation to the tube 4 as it is wound thereon. The leading end of the ribbon is fastened to the tube 4 so that it will rotate therewith, then as the tube is rotated and moved endwise, this ribbon will be wound spirally on the tube 4 while held edge- 8 wise thereto, and this will form a helical fin on the tube 4 as shown on the portion of the tube 4 at the left hand end of Fig. 3.

The disk 95, see Fig. 4, is provided with an integral shaft or stud 96 which is rotatably mounted in suitable ball bearings 91 carried within a tubular sleeve 98. The sleeve 98 is mounted for endwise sliding movement in the bore of a housing 99. A compression spring I88 is compressed between an abutment I8I threaded through one end of the housing 99 and an abutment I82 which is threaded into a threaded bore of the sleeve 98. This spring I88 continuously urges the sleeve 98 endwise in a direction to press a face of the disk at its periphery against the exposed end face of bushing 36, and since the ribbon is between the periphery of the disk 96 and the end face of the bushing 36, the ribbon will be held yieldingly against movement out of an edgewise relation to the tube 4 as it is wound on the tube. The sleeve 98 is provided with a slot I83, which is elongated in the direction of movement of the sleeve 98 under the action of spring I88 and a screw I84 carried by the housing 99 has an end extending into'the slot I83 so as to limit the movement of the sleeve 98 under the action of the spring I89 and prevent its hot action. By adjusting the abutment I8I through turning it, the compression on the spring I88 may be varied so that the desired pressure of the disk 95 against the ribbon and the bushing 36 may be adjusted as desired.

The housing 99, Fig. 3, is provided with an arm I05 which is hinged by a bolt or stud I89 on an upright bearing I81 provided on the base of the machine, so that the housing 99 may be swung laterally of its longitudinal axis and carry the disk 95 edgewise of itself toward and from the tube 4. The periphery of the disk 95 is beveled as at 95A, so that when the housing 99 is swung toward the tube 4, this beveled ed e 95A will engage against the flange of the bushing 38 and cam the disk in a direction endwise of the tube 4 sufiiciently to allow the peripheral edge of the disk 95 to engage the tube 4.

The pivot I86 may be a bolt which when tightened clamps housing 99 in a position where the periphery of disk 95 bears against or is in close proximity to the tube while the machine is in operation. The tube 4 with the fin wound thereon then passes progressively and immediately through the flux-applying device or box 5 where it is treated with a soldering flux and then through the soldering box 8 where solder is applied to secure the fin securely to the tube. The tube with the fin attached and soldered thereon then emerges and passes along the trough 8. Lengths of the tube may be coupled together so that it will be fed progressively through the machine for a considerable period, and the fin will be wound continuously on the connected lengths and soldered thereto. The tube with the fins secured thereon can then be cut into the desired lengths or bent into the desired shapes, depending upon the uses to which the finned tubing is to be pu In order to limit the angular movement of each of the bell cranks 68 and 69,'the housing 25 is provided with a pair of studs I88 and I89. The stud I88extends through an elongated slot H8 in that arm of hell crank 68 which carries the bearing I1 and mounts the roller 88, and this stud I88 by its engagement with the ends of the slots II8 will limit the possible movement of the bell crank 68 in both directions. When no tube '4 is in position between the rollers 66, I5, and

9 80, the spring 'H would normally shift the rollers 15 and 80 into contact with the roller 66 and make; it difficult to insert a new stretch of tube 4 into the machine. The stud iUS, however, limits such movement of the roller 8E! to such an extent that no particular difficulty is encountered in inserting a new stretch of tubing 4 which by engagement with roller 80 cams it aside. The stud I09 similarly is received in an elongated slot III in the arm of hell crank 69 which mounts the roller 15, and similarly limits the movement of the roller 15 in a direction toward and from the roller 66 for the same reason.

It is believed that the operation of the device for winding thefin stock spirally on the tube will. be clear from the foregoin description, and for that reason, it will not be summarized. It will be noted, however, that there is a definite speed ratio between the endwise and rotary movement of the tube 4 which rotation and endwise feeding is caused by different trains of mechanism from a common source of power, so that this. ratio when once determined to fix the pitch of the spiral fin, thatis the distance between adjacent fins, will remain constant, regardless of the speed of operation of the device. The faster the machine operates, the greater will be the grip on. the tube by the rollers which rotate the tube and of the rollers which feed it endwise. The contact between the rollers which feed the tube endwise may be at some distance from the zone of the tube where the fin is applied, because the endwise feeding movement merely causes a compressive action on the tube which does not distort the tube.

' If the same rollers rotate the tube also, then there would be considerable twist of the tube between the poi'nt of application of the rotating force and the application of the fin thereto, which twist will vary with different speeds and create a non-uniform product. With the rollers which give the tube its rotary motion, separate from the rollers which feed the tube endwise, and engaging the tube as closely as possible to the point of application of the ribbon to the tube, the twist between such rollers and the portion of the. tube where the fin is wound thereon will be negligible, and will not produce any material irregularity in thewinding of the fin ribbon on thetube. By having the rollers which rotate the tube separate from the rollers which feed it endwise, one may, by changing the speed ratio between the motor and the gears 2| and 22, vary the pitch of the fin as wound upon the tube.

It will be noted from, Figs. 3 and 9 that the rollers 66, 7'5, and 80 are arranged about the axis of the tube 4 at intervals of 120 degrees. This effectively centers the tube. keeps the tube axial, and gives a three point support to the tube. It is also desirable to grip the tube through a considerable peripheral surface zone thereof and if the contact area between each roller and the tube'is too extensive, it is difficult to so shape the surfaces of the roller and tube as to provide uniform contact over all the entire abutting areas between the roller and the tube. By using three rollers spaced. evenly around the tube, the pres-- sure on the tube will be more uniform and .a more in speed. Forsimliar reasons three rollers 40 would be advantageous for rotating the tube, but spa ce usually prevents the use of more than two rollers 49. For best results the rollers 40 should be spaced from the exit end of the bushing 36 in distance less than approximately six times the diameter of the tube.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may-be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressedin the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube which comprises a tubular member having a bore therethrough of a size to slidingly receive a tube to which a fin is to be applied, means rotatably mounting said member for rotation about the axis of said bore, a plurality of levers mounted on said member for oscillation about axes crosswise of and offset from the axis of said bore, each of said levers having at one end a roller engageagainst said tube in said bore with a force in-' creasing with the rate of operation, each of said rollers having a' peripheral surface formed to grip said tube sufficiently to cause it to rotate with said member, spring means. yieldingly urging said levers in directions to cause said rollers to engage said tube, means for causing endwise movement of said tube through said bore, and means for delivering said fin stock in ribbon form progressively to the portionof the tube leaving said member, with the ribbon abutting edgewise of itself against the periphery of the tube.

2. A machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube which comprises a member, means mounting said member for rotation, said member having a bore concentric with its axis of rotation, means for feeding said tube endwise of itself through said bore, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted on said member for 'bodily rotation therewith and independently rocking thereon and arranged about said axis equally, each lever mounting a roller on its end nearest. the exit end of said bore and contacting said tube in close proximity to said exit end of said bore in a direction radially of the bore, the other arms of said levers extending generally parallel to said axis, from their pivotal mountings in a direction opposite to the movement of the tube through said bore, and over-- weighted, whereby when said levers rotate with said member., said overweighted arms will be .movedoutwardly by centrifugal forces and to,

press said rollers against said tube,'spring means said rollers to grip said tube and cause said tube to rotate with said member as it moves through said bore, and means for delivering said fin. stock in ribbon form progressively to the portion of the tube leaving said here with theribbon edgewise of and tangentially to said tube so as to be wound, spirally on said tube as the tube rotates and moves endwise.

3. A machine for winding fin stock in ribbon.

form spirally on the periphery of a tube, which comprises a member having a bore of a size to receive'and pass said tube, a plurality of rollers engaging said tube at a distance from the exit end of said bore less than six times the diameter of said tube and arranged equally about the longitudinal axis of said bore, and rolling to pass the tube therebetween, levers pivoted intermediate of their ends on said member for rocking movement about pivotal axes lying in planes crosswise of the longitudinal axis of said tube, said levers mounting said rollers on the ends of their arms nearest the exit end of said bore and having the other arms extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube and in a direction from their pivots generally opposite to the direction of travel of said tube through said bore, said levers on their said other arms having weights which overbalance the roller carrying ends, spring means urging said levers in directions to press said rollers against said tube, and means for winding the fin stock in ribbon form spirally on said tube at the exit end of said bore.

'4. A machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube, which comprises a member having a bore therethrough of a size to slidingly receive said tube, three rollers having their peripheries concave in transverse cross section, abutting the periphery of said tube and disposed with their shortest periph eral radii in planes normal to the curved surface of the tube, so that the rollers will have relative rolling motion along the length of the tube, said rollers being arranged 120 degrees apart around the periphery of the tube, levers mounting at least two of said rollers which when rocked will carry the rollers mounted thereon toward and from said tube moving in said bore, spring means for urging said levers in directions to press the rollers carried thereby against said tube and press said tube against the other of said rollers, means mounting said levers for bodily rotation about the longitudinal axis of said tube, and said levers having weighted ends positioned to move by centrifugal forces due to said bodily rotation in directions to press the lever carried rollers against said tube with a force proportional to the speed of rotation, means for rotating all of said rollers at the same speed about their own axes and in the same relative directions to feed said tube endwise, said rollers having peripheral surfaces formed to drivingly grip the tube periphery and feed the tube endwise, and means for winding said fin stock in ribbon form spirally on said endwise moving tube beyond said rollers.

5. A machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube which comprises a member having a housing and alined extensions at opposite ends thereof, bearings rotatably supporting said extensions on opposite sides of said housing, said extensions having alined bores therethrough of a siz to receive and pass endwise said tube, the tube exit extension having, in close proximity to its exit end radially disposed passages between the exterior thereof and said bore, rollers disposed in said passages, supported by said tube exit extension for bodily rotation therewith and also movement towards and from said tube, and engaging said tube passing through that zone of the bore and disposed for relative rolling movement along the tube as the tube passes them, the peripheries of said rollers being formed to grip a tube passing between them and rotate said tube about its longitudinal axis when the rollers are bodily ro- 12 tated with said tube exit extension about said axis while passing said tube endwise therebetween, means yieldingly urging said rollers into contact with said tube, means disposed in said housing between said bearings for gripping said tube and feeding it endwise of itself through said extensions and housing, a common source of power, and means driven by said source of power for rotating said housing and its extensions about the longitudinal axis of said tube to cause said rollers to rotate said tube about its longitudinal axis at one speed and to operate said feeding means to move the tube endwise at a different speed, whereby a definite ratio of rotative and endwise movements of said tube will occur for all rates of operation of said source of power, and means for winding said fin stock in ribbon form upon the tube at the exit end of said one exten- S1011.

6. In a machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube, power operated means for simultaneously moving the tube lengthwise of its own axis and also rotating the tube about its own axis, thereby to impart to the tube a screw-like motion, said power operated means including a sleeve through which the tube passes, said sleeve having a face at its discharge end, a guide disk mounted adjacent the end face of the sleeve and adapted to closely abut the same, a shaft for rotatably mounting the disk, a housing for supporting th shaft disposed adjacent the end of the sleeve and being parallel to but oiiset from the axis of the sleeve, means for directing the fin stock between the guide disk and the end face of the sleeve there to engage a tube passing through the sleeve, and resilient means in the housing constantly urging the guide disk against the end face and interposed fin stock.

7. In a machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube, power operated means for simultaneously advancing and rotating the tube thereby to impart to it a screw-like motion, said means having a discharge end, a guide disk mounted on a shaft, said shaft having anaxis parallel to but offset from the line of movement of the tube through said power operated means, said disk being mounted normal to the axis of said shaft, a housing for rotatably receiving the shaft, a lineally movable sleeve within the housing provided with bearings in which said shaft is mounted, an end plate for the housing, and a spring disposed between the end plate and said lineally movable sleeve to urge said sleeve, shaft, and disk against the discharge end of said power operated means, and instru mentalities for directing fin stock between said disk and discharge end;

8. In a machine for winding fin stock in rib-' adapted to grip a tube passing therethrough and to advance said tube through the housing in a lengthwise direction, a bearing adjacent the sleeve on the discharge side of said housing to rotatably support said sleeve, said last named sleeve overhanging said bearing in the direction of movement of the tube, a second housing mounted on said last named sleeve for rotation therewith, a, second set of rollers rotatably. supporting mounted in said second housing, means in said second housing disposed between 13 the axes of said second rollers and said bearing for urging said second rollers into gripping engagement with a tube passing through said sleeve, whereby upon rotation of said housings said gripping rollers will rotate the tube as it is advanced through the housings by said power driven rollers, and means adjacent said gripping rollers and the discharge end of said second housing for directing fin stock around the periphery of the tube.

9. In a machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube, a rotatably mounted housing provided with concentrically disposed sleeves on either side for supporting the housing and receiving a tube to be wound, means in the housing for engaging a tube and moving it lengthwise through the sleeves and housings; a second housingmounted on the sleeve at the discharge end of the first housing for rotation therewith, bell crank levers pivotally mounted in said second housing for movement about axes transverse to the line of motion of a tube through said sleeves, one arm of each of said levers extending toward both the discharge end of said sleeve and the longitudinal axis of the sleeves and tube passing therethrough, gripping rollers mounted at the ends of each of said arms, means urging said arms and the rollers carried thereby into gripping engagement with a tube passing through the housings, whereby upon rotation of the housings the tube will be rotated about its own axis as it moves endwise, and fin stock applying means located adjacent said gripping rollers to supply said fin to the tube before said tube is torsionally distorted.

10. In a machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube, a

rotatable housing provided with concentric sleeves through which a tube may pass, means in said housing for advancing a tube lengthwise through said sleeves from an entrance end to a discharge end, a second housing mounted on and rotatable with one of said sleeves adjacent the discharge end thereof, pivot pins mounted in said second housing with their axes transverse of the line of movement of the tube, bell crank levers, mounted on said pins, one arm of each of said levers extending generally parallel to said line of movement and the other arm of each of said levers extending toward the discharge end of said second housing and the longitudinal axis of said tube, rollers mounted on said last named arms for engagement with the tube, and resilient means interposed between the sleeve, and the first named arms to urge said rollers into gripping engagement with the tube. V

11. In a machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube, a rotatable drum housing having concentric sleeves through which the housing is mounted, said sleeves having aligned bores through which a tube may-pass endwise, means in the drum housing for advancing the tube lengthwise through the sleeves from an entrance end to a discharge end as the drum is rotated, an extension sleeve piece connected to the discharge end of one of the drum housing sleeves, said extension piece being formed with elongated and lengthwise disposed slots terminating adjacent the discharge end, ribbon guiding rolls disposed at said end to direct the ribbon stock onto the tube, and pivotally mounted rollers mounted on said extension sleeve piece and projecting into said slots to grip a tube for rotation.

12. In a machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube, a drum housing provided with concentric sleeves for rotatably mounting the drum, bearings for supporting the sleeves, a plurality of rollers mounted within the drum about the longitudinal axis of the drum and sleeves, each of said rollers having a shaft angularly disposed to adjacent rollers and each of said rollers having a peripheral portion positioned adjacent said longitudinal axis to engage a tube passing therealong, bevel gearing secured to said shafts and interconnecting the rollers for concurrent rotation, apower gear connected to one of said shafts, a: driven gear train, said driven gear train including a terminal gear meshing with said power gear to rotate the same and thereby the rollers, and a second gear train connected to said first named driven gear train and to one of said sleeves to effect the simultaneous rotation of said sleeves and said drum.

13. In a machine for winding fin stock in ribbon form spirally on the periphery of a tube, a machine frame provided with spaced pedestal bearings, a rotatably mounted drum housing provided with concentric sleeves mounted on ,said bearings, a fixed housing adjacent said drum housing and encircling one of said sleeves, a power input gear train mounted on said frame and in said fixed housing, a gear on one of the sleeves meshing with the terminal gear of said train, a second power input train connected to said first named train and including a terminal gear rotatably mounted on the said gear-receiving sleeve, tube advancing rollers mounted in said drum housing and adapted to engage a tube i to advance the same through said sleeves and drum, and gearing connecting said rollers to said rotatable terminal gear, said gear trains including idlers whereby the relative rates of rotation and advance may be varied by changes of gears and said rates are fixed with respect to each other when said trains are complete.

JOSEPH D. LEAR. 

